Unsung heroes were recognised by Woodley Town Council when they were given prestigious citizens awards to honour their hard work in the community.

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Unsung heroes were recognised by Woodley Town Council when they were given prestigious citizens awards to honour their hard work in the community.

The annual citizens awards were presented to four outstanding volunteers at a ceremony on Thursday, April 21.

And for the first time there was also a Mayor’s Award, which was presented to long-standing volunteer Fred Willis by Woodley town mayor, Councillor Coling Lawley.

Mr Willis moved to Woodley in 1966 and formed the Earley and Woodley Toc H, which is an international charity that emerged from a soldier’s club in Belgium and is dedicated to bringing communities together.

He has also spent many years working and fundraising with Woodley Age Concern and Woodley Volunteer Centre and remains a life president of both.

Cllr Lawley gave a speech at the ceremony recognising the achievements of Mr Willis and said his work with both organisations was “only the tip of the iceberg”.

Mr Willis also uses his spare time driving for the Wokingham Blind Club and supports local causes such as pre-school play schemes.

Cllr Lawley said: “It gave me a great sense of satisfaction to be able to award it in its first year to Fred Willis as he is held in high esteem by many residents for his years of service to the community of Woodley.”

Ashley Young from the Woodley Retired Peoples Club also collected an award from Woodley Town Council, four years after his late wife was also given the honour.

He said: “My wife got it in 2007 for the same thing and I got it because I have been secretary for many years.

“It’s quite embarrassing really. When they raised the idea of the nominations they all said they wanted to nominate me and I said that’s the end of the discussion and we carried on with other business.

“But they must have put me forward. There were four of us that were given awards out of quite a large group so that’s very nice.

“I put it next to my wife’s award and mine is a little bit bigger.”

Other winners included Mary Clifford, who was recognised for her many years service at Woodley Age Concern and Maggie Beresford, a volunteer driver with the community bus Jumbulance.

Mrs Beresford also worked with the Woodley Horticultural Society which closed last year after nearly 50 years of trading.

Cllr Lawley said: “The evening is the highlight of the mayor’s term of office.

“This year saw more nominations than is usual and a team of councillors met to decide on the eventual winners.

“We are indeed fortunate in Woodley to have so many residents deserving of an award and this demonstrates the good community spirit in the town.

“These residents deserve the limelight that this evening gives them and the awards are an opportunity to just say thanks on behalf of the town council and residents.”